Shattered Dreams

By Christine Insinga

    Relatives say Walter Corea left Honduras for the United States when he was 23, like so many in search of the American Dream.  He left behind his parents and a young daughter.  For the past 8 years he shared a home with 6 friends & relatives in Bay Shore and worked as a deejay, sending all the money he could back to Honduras.  

   "He lived for his family," says Corea's brother- in-law Erick Monroy.  Still just 31 years of age and newly separated from his wife, Corea liked to go out from time to time and Monday night brought a young woman back to his home.  With a house full of people, including Corea's 13 year old son, who was visiting from Honduras, police say Corea and his 'guest'--23 year old Santos Rios Vasquez--were looking for some privacy.  They apparently found it in Correa's car in the garage. It was around 11pm and cold. They left the engine of the Nissan Sentra running. 

    Around 6:30 am the following morning, the homeowner wakes up and begins to feel ill.  He goes upstairs and sees Monroy.  They both smell gas and call for Walter.  No one answers.  The homeowner hears the car running, scurries to the front of the house, manages to swing the garage door open before becoming overcome by carbon monoxide and passing out on the driveway. 

   Walter's body is found on the garage floor, his friend lies dead in the passenger seat.

   The 6 other residents of the Stein Drive home (including the owner) are taken to good Samaritan Hospital where they are all treated and released.

   Walter's family tells me they want to hold a wake for him in Hempstead.  He had many friends there.  They hope to have him buried in his native Honduras, but say right now they do not have the money.  If you'd like to make a donation, you can go to our website www.news.12.com and click on number and links.

  There are so many ways this tragedy could've been avoided.  We think we know ALL the ways to keep our families safe in these situations, but it's information I feel we can never read often enough.

  A Happy and Healthy '09 to all!

  Thanks for checking in:)  {##}

Comments

[John from West islip, New York]

Unfortunatly, this is the classic example why a Carbon Monoxide Detector should be in every home. Imagine what the outcome could have been if one had been in the house? This odorless gas will kill anyone, and it is horrible what this end result was. And no matter how much money is spent on advertising these Detectors, people have the "It won't happen to me" attitude, or perhaps they put the idea to the back of their minds, or it is just not a priority. I hope people make it a priority, especially with the temps dipping into the basement, because otherwise, more of these stories will be reported.